Early departure helped Brooks

September 16, 2008|AL LESAR Tribune Staff Writer

SOUTH BEND -- Being sent home the day before his Notre Dame football team played Southern Cal in 1988 isn't something that Tony Brooks took personally. "Before we left (South Bend), we were forewarned that if we were late for anything, there'd be issues with coach (Lou) Holtz," the former Irish running back recalled last weekend. Brooks and fellow running back Ricky Watters were both late for Thanksgiving dinner. It prompted Holtz to send them home and send a message. "I still hate that it happened," said Brooks, who runs a computer business out of his home in Cassopolis. "I didn't take it personally. It helped me grow up. "I learned that Notre Dame was bigger than all that. I got into plenty of trouble, but over the years I learned to understand and appreciate the man (Holtz). He's done so much for me. "Since grade school, I was always getting in trouble. When I got bored, I made something happen. It took me a while to grow up." In the time leading up to the Sugar Bowl after the 1991 season, the rumor was that Brooks was the focus of the soon-to-be-released "Under the Tarnished Dome" book that was thought to be an expose on Holtz. "I got contacted by somebody (from the book), but I never talked to anyone," Brooks said. "I never would. Too many wonderful things have happened to me here. Coach Holtz meant a lot to me."